Coloniser fails to deliver, told to refund Rs 37L to Mohali couple

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 21

The Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered the Country Colonisers, associated with the renowned Wave Group, to refund Rs 37.24 lakh to a Mohali couple for failing to give the possession of a property in the Wave Estate, Sectors 87 and 99, Mohali, within the promised time.

President of the commission Justice Paramjeet Singh Dhaliwal (retd) and member Rajinder Kumar Goyal have ordered the colonisers to pay the due money to the bank directly from where the complainants, Rajesh Bhatheja and his wife Palika Bhatheja, had taken a loan.

The couple had taken a loan of Rs 30 lakh from India Bulls Housing Finance Limited to pay to the colonisers. The colonisers have also been asked to pay an interest of 12 per cent on the amount from the date of payment. The couple will also be paid Rs 40,000 as compensation for mental harassment.

It is worth mentioning that the group is associated with the name of Ponty Chadha, the famed liquor trader who is no more.

Bhatheja had invested in a property in the Wave Estate in September 2013 by paying Rs 6.19 lakh. The property was supposed to be delivered in 24 months. He entered into another agreement on November 28, 2014, which assured deliverance of possession of the accommodation within 24 months from the date of agreement.

The colonizers, however, failed to honour the commitment.

Meanwhile, the complainants had to pay a pre-EMI of Rs 23,450 to the financer from January 2017 onwards.

Country Colonisers said Bhathejas had bought the property only for commercial reasons. It also submitted that the complaint was time barred.

The commission, however, upheld the complaint and ordered the respondents to settle the payments within one month of the receipt of the order.